The specific creator task
Prepare a scene-by-scene composition plan for a vertical narrated video: for each scene, write what the viewer must see, where it sits in the tall frame, and what the narration says at that moment. Keep essential visible context on screen rather than relying on narration alone.
A vertical frame is tall and narrow, so a wide shot squeezed into it loses detail. Plan each scene around one visible idea, place it in the upper or middle area, and reserve the lower area for short on-screen text that supports the narration. Write the plan before you gather footage so you know what to look for.
An original worked example
This is a fictional planning example, not a tested result. A creator is planning a 9:16 narrated Short about how a home water filter is assembled. The rough plan and the finished plan below show the same three scenes.
Before (rough plan):
- Scene 1: show the filter box while narration explains the parts.
- Scene 2: show the whole filter on a table while narration lists the assembly steps.
- Scene 3: show the finished filter while narration gives a closing tip.
After (finished plan):
- Scene 1: close shot of the three parts laid in a vertical column, each labeled with a short word; narration names each part as its label appears.
- Scene 2: one step per shot, hands centered, the current part held up in the upper half; narration says only that step.
- Scene 3: finished filter centered, a single short tip line in the lower area; narration reads the tip.
What changes: the rough plan shows whole objects that would shrink in a tall frame, and it asks narration to carry detail the viewer cannot see. The finished plan gives each scene one visible idea, keeps the key object large and centered, and lets short labels carry the parts the narration names.
A practical checklist
Use this list to evaluate each scene of your vertical plan before you gather footage or render.
- One visible idea per scene, stated in a single line.
- The key object or action is large enough to read in a tall frame.
- Essential context (the part, place, or step) is visible, not only spoken.
- On-screen text is short and sits in the lower area, clear of the main subject.
- The narration line for the scene matches what is on screen at that moment.
- No wide shot is squeezed into the frame without a reason.
- Each scene has a stated purpose in the plan.
| Scene | Purpose | What stays visible | Narration match |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduce the parts | Three labeled parts in a column | Names each part as labeled |
| 2 | Show one step | Hands and current part, upper half | Says only that step |
| 3 | Close with a tip | Finished object, short tip line below | Reads the tip |
Use RavenCut with creator control
The workflow supports 9:16 Shorts and 16:9 long-form videos; free accounts are limited to Shorts.
Scene review before rendering and uploading to a connected YouTube channel are selectable workflow options.
For a vertical plan, choose the 9:16 format, then use scene review to check each scene against the checklist above before rendering. Uploading to a connected channel stays a selectable option, so you decide when to publish.
Boundaries and next step
The worked example above is fictional and illustrates planning only; it is not a test, and it makes no claim about views or results. You are responsible for the rights to any footage, images, or music you use, and for checking that your narration and visuals are accurate. Composition choices are judgment calls, so review each scene yourself.
Next step: write your own three-scene vertical plan using the before/after structure, run it through the checklist, and review the scenes before rendering.